A unique blog dedicated to covering the worlds of book publishing and the news media, revealing creative ideas, practical strategies, interesting stories, and provocative opinions. Along the way, discover savvy but entertaining insights on book marketing, public relations, branding, and advertising from a veteran of two decades in the industry of book publishing publicity and marketing.

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Sunday, April 2, 2017

How Can We Raise Better Book Readers?

My
kids just took a statewide test in English. They are 9 and 12 and both like to read. But I still see how they choose television or
device time over curling up with a book.
Parents and teachers want children to enjoy the act of reading and to
grow into smart, avid readers. So how do
we raise strong readers?

Here
are some factors to consider:

1.Model good
behavior

Show them you read often.

2.Talk about books

Ask them questions about what they read
and tell them about your books.

3.Give them choices

Have them know they can read anything they
want and encourage them to test out different genres.

4.Visit a bookstore
together

Browse what’s new and introduce them to
how to go about finding the right book.

5.Make trips to the
library as a family

Let them see that going to a place of
books is an event, a destination, and to appreciate the free availability of
all kinds of books.

6.Encourage them to read more often

Find times of the day or week to reserve
for reading. The more they read, the better
they’ll get at, and feel inspired to read more.

7.Real aloud -- or
encourage them to do so

Sharing in books in this fashion takes an
individual experience and turns it into a group activity.

8.Encourage them to
research what they read If a book’s
subject matter interests them, show them how to find more background info on
the topic.

9.Show them how to
be inquisitive readers

It’s not enough to just read and take
writers at their word. Teach children to
raise questions and challenge what they read.
Illustrate how to be a thinker and not a mere follower or passive
observer.

10.Make reading an active experience

Have them record a list of what they read.
Encourage them to track time spent reading on a daily basis. Ask them to log their favorite passage. Let them notate words that pop up in the book
that they need to look up in a dictionary
Lastly, ask them to write a 200-word review of the book. The more you show you value their opinions,
the more likely they’ll feel like reading is worthy of their time.

There
are many benefits to reading. These
following reasons for why one should read books can be conveyed to your child
to inspire them to read more:

1.Reading
books makes you smarter.

2.You
become a better reader and student by reading books.

3.Books
can stimulate our minds and turn us into analytical, creative, and probing
thinkers.

4.Books
improve our vocabulary.

5.Reading
books helps us become better writers.

6.Books
can give us exposure to things we don’t otherwise have access to or the
ability/permission to experience.

7.From
our books, we inform our worldly views.

8.Book
help us form our identity and sense of self.

9.Books
can challenge our beliefs.

10.Best
of all, time with books means less time for watching television, surfing the
web, bullying, addictions, social media, and many other poor behavioral activities. Learn the habit of loving books!

11.Reading
books offers a wonderful escape.

12.Books
enhance our imaginations.

13.Books
allow us to relax.

14.Books
can model good behavior and inspire us to greater heights.

15.Books
can show us coping mechanisms for life.

Asking
young readers about the content in the books that they consume is a really good
way to deepen their engagement with books.
Ask them:

·What’s
the book about?

·Which
characters do you like or hate? Why?

·What
surprised you?

·Did
it present new ideas to you?

·Did
it challenge or support your assumptions or values?

·How
does it compare to other books that you read?

·Did
the book make you feel anything?

·What
would you say to the author if you could meet him or her?

The
world of books is the only one I care to exist in and I will do my best to
encourage my kids to feel passionate about books. But it takes time and effort. Don’t give up if your children don’t seem as
enthused about books as you are. They
just need time and experience to see how wonderful books can be. Reading books is what life’s all about.

1 comment:

Brian: I used to work in a small town library. There was a summer reading program for the children AND the adults. During the basketball season, the children's department and the high school partnered together to have a reading program. The children won prizes in both the summer and basketball season contest.

The elementary schools'principals had "The Principals'Reading program at each school. IT was aimed at first graders. If they managed to read 100 books during the school year, each child got to eat lunch with their principal.

About Me

Brian Feinblum, the creator and author of BookMarketingBuzzBlog, is the chief marketing officer for the nation's largest book promotions firm, Media Connect (www.Media-Connect.com), formerly Planned Television Arts, and has been involved in book publicity and marketing since 1989. He has served several book publishing companies as a publicist, book editor, and acquisitions editor. Brian, who earned a BA in English from Brooklyn College, became a published author in 1995 when he penned The Florida Homeowner, Condo and Co-Op Handbook. He resides in Westchester, New York with his wife, two young children, and an English Bulldog.